Group

20052010

I attended a recovery group tonight. I’d been promising to attend for weeks now, and never have. I’d definitely always had my doubts about the program, but I had finally worked myself around to it. The issue, for me, wasn’t the “recovery” part or the “support” part or the “information” part. . . . . It was the “Bible and Christ” centered part.

I was raised “Christian.” We, as a family, went to church every Sunday and Wednesday. We attended church functions are participated in all events. I went to camp of a summer, and attended Christian school. My family had a “church” face. We’d pull into the parking lot, and it’s like a light would switch. They’d bicker and scream and fight and cuss all the way there, but buddy, pull in the parking lot, and I had the perfect, most amazing family on Earth. I was exposed to all denominations of Christians, from the wayyyyyyyyy far left wing to the most fundamental Christians of them all, the Independent Baptists.

I grew cold. I grew distant. I will be the first to announce that my moral and values system is Christian-based, but then, most middle-class, white American’s is. I do not, however, consider myself “Christian.” I don’t welcome Christianity, on any level. I greatly respect those who hold Christian beliefs. I revel in the joy it brings them. I politely listen, and when I have something to add concerning the Bible or Christianity, I will. Most of the time, though, I just listen.

This recovery group is completely Christ and Bible based. There is not a problem with that. There most definitely is not. I know more people who fall back on their faith in God than who don’t. . . . . and I’m so happy that they’re happy, settled, and at peace.

It’s not for me. It’s not a fit. I don’t mesh, click, or feel comfortable. It was nothing to do with the group; they were nothing but open, inviting, and warm-hearted. We were all asked to share our stance and position on God, and I was openly honest with mine. The group was still just as warm and inviting. It has to do with my unwillingness to accept or be directly involved with Christianity.

In any case, there are a couple other resources close to me; I think I’ll check them out. I may attend this group one more time in order to see if perhaps I was just having an “off” night . . . . *soft shrug*

6 responses

Hello! I operate a small “Ministry Center” that offers Christian based substance abuse meetings to the community. One thing you mentioned stood out to me.

“We were all asked to share our stance and position on God”

I’m guessing that made you a little uncomfortable? I really don’t see why it was nessesary to “go there”, after all, you went there to find support for your ED, not to be put on the spot or to be ministered to in any way that wasn’t directly relevant to your circumstances. Respecting peoples comfort levels is very important, critical in fact to establishing an atmosphere that some meaningful work can take place.

“It has to do with my unwillingness to accept or be directly involved with Christianity.”

That is entirely your rightful choice! No one should ever impose their faith on others, Jesus didn’t…

Hello! I understand how you feel. I was born up Christian, but never truly understood it. As I went to church more and more, it got to be more of a “social environment” rather than a “christian environment” for me. I’d go just to talk, and go for the music, cause I LOVE music. I didn’t ever understand all the books in the Bible. My step mom’s ex was a pastor, and she always thought she was goody two shoes and knew everything about the bible and would always preach to us and all. It never did me any good, as I never understood anything. It just went in one ear and out the other. No wonder she said I was never listening to her. I don’t like going to “big people church” cause it makes no sense to me. If I could go to the “highschool” group i’d be okay, cause they put it into REAL LIFE situations.

people always say: “You are a Christian right…well your body is God’s temple..” It annoys the heck outta me when people do that..

I understand where you’re coming from. . . . . . I approach from a different stance, as I *DO* understand it.

The references to God and Christianity don’t annoy me coming from someone who truly loves/cares about me; I know where their motivation is. Coming from anyone else, though, I usually try to escape the conversation as quickly as possible.

Hey! I agree with you on the part where you say “I don’t welcome Christianity, on any level. I greatly respect those who hold Christian beliefs. I revel in the joy it brings them. I politely listen, and when I have something to add concerning the Bible or Christianity, I will. Most of the time, though, I just listen.” I feel the same way but it’s people’s beliefs and you can’t change that so why so it be done. CONGRATULATION on FINALLY going to the group.

Umm. .. . . .. Yeah. . . . . . . KY has been meaning me to go for quite some time now. I’m going this week, too, just to give it one more shot. Something might have been a little “off” last week or something.